Names

[Oswyntail]

This is prompted by the thread on the Stobart 92.
I firmly believe that, once an engine or unit is named, it should keep that name. My particular bugbear is the 60s, that had a splendid set of names that prompted a fair amount of thought, research, and general expansion of knowledge. Replaced with fatuous stuff like "Rugby Flier". Why on earth de-name all the Voyagers? Will the 92s go this way? I have no objection to rewarding customers and sponsors with namings, just bung 'em on unnamed stock. It isn't as if DB have no unnamed locos left.
I particularly liked the period in the '80s when locos, particularly from Scotland, were named with no obvious theme. Who were the "Rochdale Pioneers" or the "Lass o' Ballochmyle"? Great fun finding out.

 

[MCR247]

This is prompted by the thread on the Stobart 92.
I firmly believe that, once an engine or unit is named, it should keep that name. My particular bugbear is the 60s, that had a splendid set of names that prompted a fair amount of thought, research, and general expansion of knowledge. Replaced with fatuous stuff like "Rugby Flier". Why on earth de-name all the Voyagers? Will the 92s go this way? I have no objection to rewarding customers and sponsors with namings, just bung 'em on unnamed stock. It isn't as if DB have no unnamed locos left.
I particularly liked the period in the '80s when locos, particularly from Scotland, were named with no obvious theme. Who were the "Rochdale Pioneers" or the "Lass o' Ballochmyle"? Great fun finding out.

Why de-name the voyagers? because AFAIK they were Virgins werent they?

 

[Oswyntail]

Why de-name the voyagers? because AFAIK they were Virgins werent they?

No (well, yes, they were operated by Virgin, but). The 220s were all named "somewhere Voyager" which is not Virgin specific. The 221s were all named after travellers, again non-Virgin specific. No need to remove them at all. When BR took over in 1948, did they de-name e.g. Mallard?
[I can see the sense in de-naming the pendos if ever they change hands]

 

[MCR247]

No (well, yes, they were operated by Virgin, but). The 220s were all named "somewhere Voyager" which is not Virgin specific. The 221s were all named after travellers, again non-Virgin specific. No need to remove them at all. When BR took over in 1948, did they de-name e.g. Mallard?
[I can see the sense in de-naming the pendos if ever they change hands]

No, I mean the nameplates were owned by Virgin I think

 

[Swift-Deere]

I think i would be better if all Locos/MUs were named!!!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

No (well, yes, they were operated by Virgin, but). The 220s were all named "somewhere Voyager" which is not Virgin specific. The 221s were all named after travellers, again non-Virgin specific. No need to remove them at all. When BR took over in 1948, did they de-name e.g. Mallard?
[I can see the sense in de-naming the pendos if ever they change hands]

I can confirm "Mallard" was kept aswell as "Flying Scotsman" during nationalisation through to the end of steam the only thing which changed on the locos was the numbering and livery.

 

[Oswyntail]

I can confirm "Mallard" was kept aswell as "Flying Scotsman" during nationalisation through to the end of steam the only thing which changed on the locos was the numbering and livery.

Exactly - was meant to be a rhetorical question - so why the need to banish "Henry the Navigator"?

 

[Helvellyn]

Because as has been said, the nameplates were owned by Virgin. I believe a lot of the "Voyager" theme plates have been sold since they were removed. It's like when the 442s were withdrawn by SWT - all were denamed and the plates sold off for charity.

There was a big hoo-ha when the Western Region renamed 50007 Hercules as Sir Edward Elgar (and repainted it in mock GWR green) as part of the GWR 150 celebrations. I don'y know why they didn't just paint up another 47.

The renaming lark really took off once privatisation started, though BR wasn't adverse to it. The various Railfreight sub sectors became quite good at swapping names between locomotives as they were transferred around!

A good site on loco names is here, and I'd like to see a second edition of the book published at some point. It's surprising how many names never actually made it onto a locomotive, even when the plates had been cast.

Oh, as a final point - the LNER did rename quite a few A4s after Directors of the company. Bit of an ego trip I guess!

 

[fgwrich]

Speaking of Train Namings...I Hear [and see] that the first of the new metropolitan S stock has been named after Tom O Toole CBE...Intriguingly it looks like Vinyl on a brushd metal plate...

page 5...
http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/issues/RHUK/Issue199.pdf

Still think incredibly little of the S Stock though...S is for S**t

But is it me or has most modern nameplate names literally gone out the window now? and by out the window i mean in terms of sense...

One example being SWT's 444, named Destination Weymouth...now although this is down to the 2012 sailing events being there, it dosent actually say anything about this on the plate...So is the 444 going to Weymouth aswell?

Ok, whilst ive just found out that it was originally due to be named Destination Weymouth 2012, still dont think much of its name...
http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/News/_trainnamedafterweymouth.htm

Yeovil will be celibrating 150 years next year of railway history to the town, will be see a 159 called Destination Yeovil Junction?

 

[MCR247]

Have you been on an S Stock? No. Can you judge it fairly? No

 

[Royston Vasey]

The problem with setting names in stone would be that TOCs could never remove what is essentially its predecessor's marketing material. 43003 would always be 'First Transforming Travel' even if someone else got the franchise! And imagine if Grand Central had named their new 180 'Ian Yeowart'!

I don't see anything wrong with changing names myself. It adds colour and interest to our railways. Also 92017 was previously Shakespeare, which wouldn't quite fit its new assignment!

 

[jopsuk]

Whilst Mallard kept its name, another Gresley A4 was renamed on political grounds, wasn't it? It's since been renamed back though.

 

[fgwrich]

Have you been on an S Stock? No. Can you judge it fairly? No

Yeap, your right that i havent been on a S Stock...But i have actually been on the Mock up and being a part time commuter myself, id hate to actually have something that bad...the interior is layed out completley wrong for the chosen route...The Hammersmith & City line yes, the Metropolitan Line...NO

Going back to the subject of modern namings, does anyone else agree with me on this subject...

Take the former MML For example, i know that they are imcumbent now but why cheap vinyl names such as Rio Princess etc...Ok, its for the Project Rio services...but still, a Nameplate should be a Nameplate, with a reason and something decent... unlike TOCs such as South Eastern...with Vinyl plates on there Electrostars...

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


And proving my point about modern nameplates - if you can call it that..

Is this...

http://railways.mjspencer.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=3180

Former Name... Shakespeare ... After The famous english poet William Shakespeare, and if you dont know who he was, you obviously havent been doing GCSE English in the past decade...

New Name... Bart The Engine...or should that be Brat The Engine?